Old Friends Equine

Coordinates: 38°10′45.7″N 84°35′45.8″W / 38.179361°N 84.596056°W / 38.179361; -84.596056
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Horses at Old Friends Equine

Old Friends is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) equine retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). The organization started with one leased paddock and two horses, but now owns 136 acres, Dreamchase Farm, with additional leased pasturage. It is the only Thoroughbred retirement facility in the United States that accepts stallions on a regular basis. Old Friends is currently home to over 150 retired Thoroughbred athletes.[1]

Background

Geldings share pastures at Old Friends, becoming close friends

The facility was created in 2003 by former The Boston Globe movie critic Michael Blowen, spurred by the death of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in 2002. The presence of high-profile horses helps raise money, allowing after-care for more low profile horses.[2]

In 2009, Joann and Mark Pepper's farm in Greenfield Center, New York, became a satellite operation of Old Friends Equine known as Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who died in 2009.[3]

In 2015, Old Friends announced a partnership with Kentucky Downs, with the cooperation and assistance of Simpson County Tourism. Located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, this satellite facility can house up to 10 retired Thoroughbreds and features daily tours and a gift shop. Residents currently include Canadian Horse of the Year Thornfield, Ball Four, Rumor Has It, Hussonfirst, Lusty Latin, and Sgt. Bert.

In January 2015, Old Friends was selected to receive a special Eclipse Award honoring extraordinary service or contributions to the Thoroughbred industry.[2]

In January 2016, a fire destroyed the organization's hospital/quarantine barn. Forunately, no horses or people were harmed. Plans are underway to rebuild a new fire-safe barn, aided by donations and fundraising activities.[4]

Horses are kept "turned out" in their pasture as much as possible, with run-in sheds available in case of bad weather. Geldings typically share a paddock with one or two others, forming tight bonds. Stallions are more territorial and are thus kept in separate pastures. They do interact with each other though, often by racing down their fences. Visitors are allowed to touch and feed most of the retirees.[5]

The board of directors consists of Michael Blowen (president), William Van Den Dool (vice president), Diane White (secretary), Rosie Napravnik, Dr. Steve Allday, Clark Nyberg, Cindy Grisolia, Suzanne Mundy, Dennis Brida, Ron Portell, Ron Wallace, Mark Otto, Barbara Fossum, and Corey Johnsen.[1]

Notable residents

Silver Charm enjoying his retirement at Old Friends

Residents at the main farm in Kentucky range from

Classic winners
to claimers. They include:

Rapid Redux with Rail Trip

Notable residents in New York

Notable residents at Kentucky Downs

  • Ball Four (2001, gelding) – Won Kentucky Cup Classic, set two track records
  • Good Lord (2007, gelding) – 9-time stakes winner with over 80 starts, earnings of $803,305.[20]
  • Sgt. Bert (2001, gelding) – Two time winner of the Woodford Stakes, setting a track record
  • Thornfield (1994, gelding) – Won Canadian International, 1999 Canadian Horse of the Year

Deceased Old Friends

Former residents of Old Friends include:

  • Awad – Winner of 1993 Secretariat Stakes and 1995 Arlington Million.[21] Died in 2011.
  • A. P. Slew – Great-great grandson of Hall of Fame filly Silver Spoon. Euthanized in 2014 due to complications from colic surgery.[22]
  • Appygolucky – King of the Claimers at Beulah Park, holds track record for a mile at the now-defunct Ohio racetrack. Euthanized in 2009 due to spinal condition.
  • Ballindaggin – Winner of 1988 Molson Export Challenge. Euthanized on July 22, 2008.[23]
  • Black Tie Affair – Winner of 1991 Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year. Died in 2010 after a battle with cancer and arthritis.
  • Bonnie's Poker – Dam of Hall of Fame Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Silver Charm.[24] Died at age 28 in 2010.
  • Bonapaw – Millionaire winner of the 2002 Vosburgh Stakes that made over 40 starts. Was euthanized in 2017 due to complications caused by neurological disease.
  • Bull Inthe Heather – Son of Ferdinand, winner of 1993 Florida Derby.[25] Euthanized in 2014 due to ongoing physical infirmities.[25]
  • Catlaunch (2001, gelding) – Started over 100 times, earning over $1 million at smaller tracks in Ohio and the midwest. Euthanized in May 2018 due to chronic neurologic disease.[26]
  • Charismatic
    - 1999 Lexington Stakes, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, died at age 21 in after a freak stall accident, shortly after arriving at Old Friends from Japan, where he had been standing stallion duties.
  • Creator (1986 stallion) – Winner of 1990 Prix Ganay.[27] In 2004, he was one of the first stallions (with Ogygian and Sunshine Forever) returned by Old Friends from overseas for retirement. Euthanized on February 28, 2015, after complications from colic.[28]
  • Crusader Sword (1985 stallion) – Winner of 1997 Hopeful Stakes and Saratoga Special Stakes. A leading sire in New York, he sired 16 stakes winners and over $17.8 million in progeny earnings. He died in May 2010 due to infirmities of old age.[29]
Genuine Reward at age 25
Gulch at age 31
  • Diamond Stripes – Winner of the 2008 Gr.II Godolpin Mile at Meydan and two other graded stakes. Euthanized at age 10 due to complications from sinus cancer.
  • Fortunate Prospect – Winner of 1984 San Vincente Stakes, sire of 537 winners [30] Died at age 32 in 2012.
  • Genuine Reward (1993, stallion) – One of only two living foals produced by Kentucky Derby winning filly Genuine Risk, he never raced. He was serving as a sire of polo ponies before being relocated to Old Friends in 2015.[31] Euthanized in 2018.[32]
  • Gulch (1984 stallion) – Eclipse Champion / Breeders' Cup-winning sprinter and sire of Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch. Died at age 32 on January 17, 2016.
  • Halo America- Multiple graded stakes winning mare, dam of stakes winners Quick Temper and Marino Marini, and granddam of 2017 Preakness Stakes winner
    Cloud Computing
    , euthanized at age 26 due to declining health.
  • Hidden Lake (1993 mare) – 1997 Eclipse Champion Older Mare, retired to Old Friends in 2009. Euthanized September 29, 2016 due to the infirmities of old age.[33]
  • Kiri's Clown (1989 stallion) – Winner of 1995
    Sword Dancer Invitational, track record holder for 1+1⁄2 miles at Saratoga.[23] Retired from stud in 2006, passed 2014 due to complications from colic surgery.[34]
  • Key Contender (1988 stallion) – Winner of 1995
    Suburban Handicap with over 50 starts. Sired stakes winner Weathered. Died in July 2012 due to colic.[35]
  • Jerome Handicap. Ogygian was euthanized at the age of 32 due to colic complications. At the time of his death, he was the oldest resident at Old Friends.[36]
  • Popcorn Deelites (1998, gelding) – Low level claimer turned animal actor, performed the title role in the 2003 film Seabiscuit, joined Old Friends in 2005 and died in 2022.[37]
  • Precisionist – Won 1985 Breeders' Cup Sprint, Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter, Hall of Fame inductee. Euthanized in 2006 due to cancerous tumors.
  • Prized – Winner of 1989 Breeders' Cup Turf in his first start on a grass course. Died in 2014 at age 28.
  • Sarava (1999, stallion) – Winner of 2002 Belmont Stakes in the biggest upset in the race's history. Retired from stud in 2012.[38]
  • Champion Turf Horse. Died January 7, 2014.[27]
  • Ruhlmann – Winner of 1990 Santa Anita Handicap. Died December 24, 2008.[39]
  • The Wicked North – Won three Grade 1 races, 1994 Eclipse Award winner for Champion Older Horse. Euthanized March 2011.[40]
  • Thunder Rumble, the first New York-bred horse in 125 years to win the Travers Stakes.[41] Died of complications from colic in January 2015 at age 26.[42]
  • Will's Way, 1996 Travers Stakes winner.[43]
  • Pacific Classic, Secretariat's last born son. Euthanized at age 27 after battling a severe neurological disease.[44]
  • Tour of the Cat (1998, gelding) – Won multiple graded stakes and over $1.1 million, before descending through the claiming ranks. Claimed in 2009 in order to retire to Old Friends.[45] Died in May 2018 due to a diaphragmatic hernia.[26]
  • Wallenda – Winner of 1993 Grade 1 Super Derby and son of Gulch. Euthanized in 2016 after a lifelong battle with chronic pain caused by a bad hoof.[46]
  • War Emblem (1999, stallion until 2015, gelding thereafter) – Winner of the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Stood in Japan where he was a notoriously shy breeder. Brought back to Old Friends in 2015 where it proved necessary to geld him to comply with USDA regulations.[47] Died in March 2020 at age 21.
  • Williamstown – Former mile record holder at Belmont.[48] He was euthanized February 25, 2015 due to complications from equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.[49]
  • Winston (1993, gelding) – miniature horse, former resident Thoroughbred companion at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Retired to Old Friends[50] and died on May 2, 2018, just before his 25th birthday, due to an abdominal infection.[51]
  • Zippy Chippy, modern American record holder for the most losses—"racing's most lovable loser"[52][53]

The following horses were re-interred at Old Friends when their original graves were threatened:

Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs

In 2015, Kentucky Downs introduced the Old Friends Stakes. A black-type turf stakes run in September, the race is held on the "Old Friends Day" race card, a day dedicated to the facility and thoroughbred aftercare. Along with their share of the $150,000 purse, the winner is guaranteed a place at Old Friends upon retirement.

The inaugural running in 2015 was won by 50–1 shot Kalamos, a son of Empire Maker who had previously won a Gr.III race in Europe.[56]

The second running in 2016 was won by Flatlined, a son of Flatter who would go on to become a graded stakes winner.[57]

The third running in 2017 was won by Sir Dudley Digges, a son of

Queen's Plate in an upset. The win was his first since the Queen's Plate.[58]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b "About Us – Old Friends Equine – A Retirement Home for Thoroughbred Race Horses". Old Friends. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Staff, Blood-Horse (December 19, 2014). "Old Friends to Receive Special Eclipse Award". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  3. ^ VGrF (8 December 2009). "Old Friends at Cabin Creek: Bobby Frankel Division is born in Greenfield". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ^ Release, Press (28 January 2016). "Fasig-Tipton gives $50K to rebuild at Old Friends". Off Track Thoroughbreds. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  5. ^ "February 29, 2016". Old Friends Blog. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d "Retired Race Horses at Old Friends – A Retirement Home for Thoroughbred Race Horses". Old Friends. Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  7. ^ "BC Winner Alphabet Soup to Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Commentator Going to Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  9. ^ "Eldaafer". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  10. ^ "Game on Dude". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Little Mike Retired to Old Friends | BloodHorse.com". Archived from the original on 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  12. ^ Release, Press (9 May 2016). "Spokeshorse Little Silver Charm has a new book". Off Track Thoroughbreds. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  13. ^ Shinar, Jack. "Rail Trip Retired, Bound for Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  14. ^ "Rapid Redux to be Pensioned at Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  15. ^ "Silver Charm". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  16. ^ "Touch Gold Pensioned, to Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  17. ^ "Seven Puerto Rico Horses Retired Stateside". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  18. ^ Albrycht, Sarah. "This Hard Land". oldfriendsatcabincreek.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  19. ^ Albrycht, Sarah. "King Congie". oldfriendsatcabincreek.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  20. ^ "New Arrivals at Old Friends at Kentucky Downs". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2008-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "A. P. SLEW 1999–2014 – Old Friends". Old Friends. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  23. ^ a b "- Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  24. ^ "- Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  25. ^ a b BloodHorse Staff. "Bull Inthe Heather Euthanized at Old Friends". Blood-Horse LLC. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Old Friends Retirees Tour of the Cat, Catlaunch Pass". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b "- Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  28. ^ "Creator −1986–2015". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  29. ^ "Crusader Sword to Old Friends in NY". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  30. ^ "- Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  31. ^ "Genuine Reward". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  32. ^ "Genuine Reward, Son of Genuine Risk, Euthanized at 25". The Blood-Horse. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Champion Hidden Lake Dies at 23". bloodhorse.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  34. ^ "Kiri's Clown". Old Friends. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  35. ^ "Grade I Winner Key Contender Dies". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  36. ^ "Ogygian". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  37. ^ "Seabiscuit Horse To Be Featured at Keeneland". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2005.
  38. ^ "Sarava". Old Friends. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  39. ^ "Ruhlmann Arrives at Old Friends | bloodhorse.com". Archived from the original on 2005-05-04. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  40. ^ "- Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  41. ^ "Thunder Rumble, Gigli to Old Friends in N.Y." Archived from the original on 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  42. ^ New York-bred 1992 Travers winner Thunder Rumble dies Archived 2015-01-07 at the Wayback Machine saratogian.com, January 6, 2015
  43. ^ "Will's Way to Old Friends NY Division". Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  44. ^ "Multiple Grade 1 Winner Tinners Way Euthanized at 27". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  45. ^ "Kentucky Downs". Old Friends. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  46. ^ Shulman, Lenny (May 9, 2016). "Millionaire Wallenda Put Down at Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  47. ^ "War Emblem". American Classic Pedigrees. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  48. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. ^ Bloodhorse Staff (April 1, 2015). "Grade II Winner Williamstown Dead at 25". Blood-Horse LLC. Bloodhorse.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  50. ^ Adams, Kirby. "It's going to be a lovely retirement for Winston, Louisville's most famous mini horse". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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  52. ^ "Catching Up With A Lovable Loser: Zippy Chippy | Only A Game". WBUR-FM. 9 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
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  54. ^ "Remains of Glacial Princess to be Moved to Old Friends". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  55. ^ "Marking The Memory: Livingston Enables Springsteel's Final Journey – Horse Racing News | Paulick Report". www.paulickreport.com. 22 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  56. ^ "Long Shot Kalamos Captures Old Friends Stakes; Geroux Continues Riding Hot Streak – Horse Racing News | Paulick Report". www.paulickreport.com. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  57. ^ "Flatlined seizes advantage in Old Friends Stakes | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
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38°10′45.7″N 84°35′45.8″W / 38.179361°N 84.596056°W / 38.179361; -84.596056

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